Who will Survive?

[T-Marv]

A Survivor.

Some say that it isn’t good enough to survive this life; one must live it to the fullest. I say Bullshit! Surviving is the battle, surviving is living life to the very extent of the word! Being a survivor is something the world should stand up in awe, tipping their collective hats for. It means that you’re a true warrior, battling for everything that you hold dear, striving to hold on. I am a survivor. I walked through hell and didn’t get burned, and came out the other side with nothing more than a few bruises and a newfound respect for what we put our body through day in and day out.

But I walked out of that satanic lair with one other thing, something that defines who I am and who I will always be. Not just my pride, not just my status, and not just my championship title. I walked out of Hell with the knowledge that I am UNSTOPABLE! I walked out of there knowing that I faced every Demon put in front of my face and I conquered them all! I looked every single face of destruction, every face that saw me as a piece of meat that put me in their crosshairs right in the eyes. I met them head on and one by one sent them packing until I stood alone on top of the world, crown on my head and throne standing right in front of me!

I have saved APW from the evil that sought to conquer and rule with their own agenda. As the old song goes “There ain’t no rest for the wicked until we close our eyes for good.” My battle is far from over. I don’t have the luxury of a lavish celebration, of sitting on my ass and reveling in my success. Each day is another battle, every second is a struggle. There are new challengers looking to knock me off my pedestal. There are vile minds out there looking to ruin all that I’ve worked to achieve, all that I’ve turned APW into. I have no choice but to fight on, knowing that all a victory will bring is another fight, and another, until who knows?

It doesn’t matter if it’s an endless circle that never ends. It doesn’t matter if there’s no light at the end of the title. This championship belt is more than just a trophy. It’s a responsibility, one I take very VERY seriously! And now my destiny is clear. I have one goal now, only one……No matter what’s thrown at me, no matter the hardships I run across, no matter how desperate my situation looks. I will do the only thing I can do….

I WILL SURVIVE

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High over the Pacific ocean, a light moves through the sky like a shooting star cutting through space. But this is no star….well not quite. Inside the giant jet-liner all is quiet as the passengers sleep through the long journey. First Class is empty except for two souls.

”Now What?”

The voice of Faythe calls up from the shoulder of the APW Undisputed Champion. The title sits draped over the back of one of the first class seats. Her eyes remain closed and she seems more comfortable than any one human being should ever be as her head rests gently against Terry’s chest. The Champ gently strokes her hair and smiles.

”What do you mean?”

Terry kisses her gently on top of her head before again leaning back against the seat allowing the “Ribera” patch on his brand new jacket shine through.

”Well, you retained your title, you fended off the best that APW has to offer. You’ve proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be the greatest wrestler alive today. I mean, nobody else could have done what you just did. NOBODY could have held off the cream of the crop like that. So now what?”

Terry smiles and shakes his head.

”Now, we relax on this flight and enjoy this perfect moment of serenity. Cause once we land, the cycle starts all over again! There’s another challenge, another hill to climb, another destiny in store.”

Faythe just lets out a sigh and opens her eyes staring out blankly.

”Does it ever end?”

”Nope.”

”Then what’s the point.”

Terry frowns heavily at this statement. The sides of his mouth scowl and his eyebrows turn stern.

”The point?”

”Well, what I mean is, you’re the champion! You’re the king, and you’ve proven that it’s not a fluke. When do you just get to enjoy it?”

”Never! Sitting back and enjoying it is never in the equation. Every single time I go out there and prove my worth, prove that I am superior to every other Tom, Dick, and AC Smith that laces up a pair of boots….that’s what I enjoy. Life on top is fleeting, and I’m simply trying to hold on to every single second.”

He seems a little worked up now and even Faythe can sense it as she tries to take things in a different direction.

”It just seems like there’s no more mountains to climb, no more frontier to conquer. It’s just like you sit in your throne with a giant bull’s-eye on your chest! ”

Terry smiles at this thought. It’s odd that being a target would actually bring some joy to his face, but then again, this is Terry Marvin we’re talking about. Nothing is ever as it seems with him.

”You’re right. I have one hell of a glorious view from the top of the tower. But all around me is evil floating in trying to take what is mine. But that right there, that’s the fun of it. That’s what keeps me going! See, I know how hard I worked my ass off to achieve total glory. Therefore, if somebody wants to hold this title high above their heads or if they just want to make a name for themselves at my expense, they’re going to have to work twice that hard!”

”So what’s your overall goal now? Just fend off anyone who comes looking for you?”

Terry smiles and closes his eyes as he leans his head back. He dreams of standing in a ring under a huge banner with thousands upon thousands of people chanting his name as he holds a title high in the air. This isn’t just any ring, isn’t just any stadium. The banner Reads “RASSLEMANIA.” Terry smiles at the thought.

”My goal, my penultimate goal, is to stand in that very ring at Rasslemania Nine and look out at the crowd while standing over the fallen body of my opponent as the Main Event closes out the most entertaining spectacle this sport has ever known! I’m going to headline Rasslemania 9.”

Faythe is now the one who smiles.

”Of course you will babe. After all, we’re still living in the Real Show Era! Everything you put your mind to, everything you sought out to do this year has been a resounding success. I’m sure you’ll have no troubles getting yourself to Rasslemania.”

Terry smiles at her confidence in him and pulls her in closer.

”Yet, there are still those with the mindset to try to stop me. I can’t become complacent, can’t sleep on my competition. Each and every time I step inside that ring I will be going to war, and I will be fighting for my life. I’m sure AC Smith is sitting comfortably right now thinking that he doesn’t have a damn thing to lose. I’m sure he’s smiling brightly thinking he’ll be making an upset bid to jumpstart his failing career.”

Terry just smirks and shakes his head.

”As much as I respect Smith for what he does inside that ring, I’d rather see his rotting corpse melting into the earth than give him that satisfaction. I’ll be ready for AC Smith, I’ll be ready for everything!”

Terry smiles again and looks down to see his wife asleep on his chest. The smile slowly fades away as fire and passion flows out of his eyes.

”If they think they know who Terry Marvin is, if they think they realize the man I’ve become…… they haven’t seen anything yet. They thought that the first chapter of “Terry Marvin: Undisputed Champion” was a hell of a read, but It’s merely amateur hour compared to what I have in store. Buckle up folks… It’s gonna be one HELL of a Ride!”

Terry smiles and lays his head back, closing his eyes. His breathing begins to even out with Faythe’s as they drift off to the land of dreams. Again we get a bottom up view of the plane as it quickly jets off out of the scene.

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Cold air blows the icy rain through the streets of Washington DC. There are parties happening at every single turn, left over from election night. There are campaign posters, half ripped off, half scribbled on, littering the streets. Standing near the Washington monument is the APW Undisputed Champion Terry Marvin!

”It’s a bad day to be in Washington DC, depending on which political puppet you had your hopes and dreams riding on. But it makes no difference which one of those two faced kings of deception won this fake little election. You see, left and right are just directions, and no matter which route you take, the destination is the same! Salvation doesn’t come from Capitol Hill, it comes from somebody willing to stand up and to the right thing. But as they say, history is written by the winners, and just like the Obama administration, I too will dictate how my future story is told. “

Terry smiles as he walks past a man nearly passed out drunk hanging over a garbage can. He smirks, pats the guy on the back, and continues on.

”You see, much like my opponent for this week AC Smith and myself found out at One Night in Hell….each contest has a losing side and a winning side! And much like the Romney supporters who have their heads hung low wondering what went wrong, Mr. Smith also has to come to teams inside that head of his why he failed in his quest at One Night in Hell!

Meanwhile, I’ve spent the aftermath partying it up in celebration and planning for the good things to come in the future! My mind, like Mr. Obama, is set on the Future and putting our plans to action. I have no need to wallow in the past, have no need to feel sorry for myself and mope around.

But then again, I’m a WINNER!“

Terry stops in front of the giant fountain leading up to the monument and leans against a post.

”So here we are once again eh AC? Pretty pathetic if you really think about it, considering where we both were when we first met. There we both were just looking for that little boost to get a little something extra outta our careers. Of course I went on to bigger and better things, but I thought for sure that the next time we met, you’d be miles above where you started.

Then once again, I found myself on top of the world and looking at an unimproved AC Smith coming off yet another disappointing reality check. OF course the ending to that match was already pre written in the stars, but somehow you managed to earn my respect in that match. And once again I thought that the next time we met, it would surely be for the Undisputed Championship….that you would have surely gotten your shit together by then!

Yet, here we are. I’m on top of the world coming off the biggest victory in my career, coming off the GREATEST title defense APW has ever seen. And there you are, head in your hands crying about getting your ass handed to you by the joke of APW Nick Watson. Tell me AC, how could you let yourself become such a pathetic poster child for “How to FUCK UP your wrestling career.” I pray that this influx of newcomers take a look at your lackluster performance and learn a little something by it, certainly you won’t! “

He shakes his head before continuing on.

”I have to tell you AC. I thought you had something special. I truly did! Of course my pride wouldn’t allow me to express that at the time, but you seemed to have all the qualities that make up the legends of this business. You don’t have one iota of my charisma and charm of course, but the prototypical size and strength nearly overcame that one shortcoming. In the last year and a half, I’ve literally shaken the hand of ONE opponent after decimating them and making them wish they never met me…..ONE! And your complete and total fall from grace has reminded me why I don’t do it more often.

That handshake was my veritable seal of approval Smith! And you basically spit back in my face by making absolutely nothing of yourself. You’ve disappointed me in a way that even my drug addict whore of a daughter couldn’t even do….BRAVO!

It makes me sick to my stomach to know that my high hopes for you were flushed down the toilet simply because you don’t have that drive, that desire to go to the next level. So tell me AC, what is your excuse? Were you blinded by your love for a woman? Were you caught unaware by Nick Watson and Evan Envi? Or are you just an inept talent who is easily mistaken for somebody with the tools to make it in this business. Clearly, that’s the only possible answer! And have no fear, I will not make that mistake again!“

Terry scowls and shakes his head in disappointment.

”It is a CRIME for you to disgrace this great and powerful city with your filthy existence AC. This place houses some of the most powerful men on the planet, and some of the most innovative and ingenious minds this world has ever seen. Right now I stand the place where almost 50 years ago, a man with a dream changed the way the country operated….paved the way for a bright and beautiful future. And instead of living out my own dream, I’m forced to deal with the underbelly of APW!

I too have a dream AC…. I have a dream where one day frauds like you will no longer be able to pollute the airways of this great nation, will no longer be able to lower the preverbal bar with your extreme and unabashed failures! And with the help of the APW booking staff, I am in a position to make that dream come true. I am in a position to do one of two things. I will either embarrass you so much that you’ll hang your head down in shame and walk away from this business forever, or I will light a fire under your ass so hot that you’ll have no choice but to answer the call.

Either way AC Smith, our third meeting will be the most brutal and vicious of all, and it will be the one most remembered in this little feud of ours. Either you will be forever forgotten, buried in the archives of those who wasted their potential and allowed their candle to be extinguished, or you will find some way to push yourself to the VERY EXTREMES of the human limits! Truly, the result will be the same as there Is no scenario possible that a simpleton like yourself could best THE GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO WRESTLING .But at least the later scenario will continue to allow you to wake up every morning and stare yourself in the face without the overwhelming desire to claw your own face off!“

Terry continues walking until he is back near the monument standing near all the flags posted around it. Once there he stares up at the large monstrosity while speaking.

”Sometimes, we trick ourselves into believing that a certain quest is just too hard, that a task is far beyond our reach. WE lose that “I think I can” mentality and just give up all together. AC, you’ve devolved into the little engine who couldn’t! You’ve allowed all your unfortunate outings to seep into your head and drag your desire down to a point where you can’t fathom being relevant EVER again.

If that’s the case going into this match, then you had better keep you big ass home and not even bother! I will show you on mercy AC, I will push you so hard that you’ll be begging me to end it all, to finish you off. I will make you face your own morality and truly answer the question if this is what you really want to be doing with your life or not.

Surely I am one obstacle that you simply cannot overcome AC. I am the holy grail of all victories where you have failed to even taste one SIP of glory. Your thoughts are running the spectrum from “I’m not good enough, there’s no way” to “This is my chance to prove myself to the world.” Opportunity is knocking AC, are you going to answer or bury your head in the sand and wait for the disaster to pass?”

Terry turns around from the monument and stares dead on at the camera.

”As for tomorrow night? I don’t see this match as a cooling down period from my big brutal night in Hell. I don’t see this as a chance to take it easy and heal my wounds. I see it as just another trial, another test to conquer on this unbelievable path I’ve been on since my return to glory. I see it as another guy on this roster with his rifle aimed right at my head just itching to pull that trigger. I see it as someone who’s trying to take what is rightfully mine, what I’ve busted my ass all year for….my spot in this business!

And here you are, the prodigal son of New York City, trying to knock me down a peg. I’m sure you’ve got all the hopes and dreams of everyone in that devastated town resting squarely on your shoulders. Hell, you’ve probably even got yourself convinced that you’re going to do something stupid like dedicate this match to them. But what’s it going to say when I leave you in ruins just like your precious city? What are you going to do when you disappoint every single New York City fan of yours who was just praying for a bright spot?

Well New York, I hope you’re ready to weather another storm as the Autumn of Awesome brings Hurricane Real Show into town to blow you away and bury you under my ocean of talent.”

Terry flashes a mischievous smirk.

”What? Too soon?”

Terry just shakes his head before continuing.

”The truth of the matter is those people in New York possess a quality that is lacking in their resident elected Asskicker…..a quality that yours truly possesses in spades and has used many times to keep my head above water. We both have that survival instinct sewn deep into our bones. It is a part of us, and it comes as simple as breathing.

You see, when my career was on the fritz, and everything was hanging in the balance, that instinct of mine kicked into overdrive and it brought me back from the brink of futility. I rebounded in a way that could only be expressed by God’s Gift To Wrestling! I survived AC Smith…. Will you?”

Terry puts his hand up to his chin and ponders his own question.

”I just don’t see it happening AC. The more likely scenario would be your career suffering the same fate as your Xtreme Championship Match. See, you’re given a dire situation where you can either fight to survive, or roll over and die. AT One Night in hell, you allowed yourself to be euthanized and drift off in that ever elusive dream of peace. You rolled over, gave your last death wail and drifted off to oblivion. And now your career is aimed in the same direction. You’re lying there on your death bed, curled in a fetal position just waiting for the angel of death to come and give you sweet release. And THAT I have no problem doing Smith! If somebody is too much of a coward to keep going, I am more than obliged to snatch that last precious inch of life from their fading grasp”

Terry reaches out to the camera and pretends to snatch something away from it. He then smiles slightly as he stands with his back to the monument. The camera zooms out wide so that It seems that Terry is off in the distance as he utters his final words.

”Tomorrow Night, in front of the most powerful people of the Greatest Nation in the world, another Leader will stand out and accept the task of greatness laid at his feet.

Tomorrow Night, I prove why I am a survivor, why I am the UNDISPUTED CHAMPION!

Tomorrow Night, the Real Show Era simply grows one miniscule amount bigger.

But the legacy of AC Smith collapses down around him! Third time’s a charm AC? Not quite my friend…it’s more like Three Strikes…. And you’re OUT!

IT’S SHOWTIME!”

Terry stands with his arms spread wide as his final words echo into the nation’s capitol and the scene fades to black.